PHIL 440A: Study Questions on Harman and Sturgeon

Study Questions on Harman, "Moral Nihilism"

1. According to Harman, what is the analogy between testing scientific theories and testing moral theories?

2. According to Harman, what is the disanalogy? [Hint: Think of Ruse's claim that objective morality is redundant.]

3. What are the two senses in which Harman thinks a theory can explain an observation? Explain. Which is the sense in which Harman thinks that moral theories can explain observations and which is the sense in which Harman thinks that they cannot?

4. What does Harman mean by moral nihilism? What is our term for that position? What is Harman's "more moderate nihilism"?

5. Recall Moore's analogy between "good" and "yellow". What does Harman think is the important disanalogy between them?

6. Why does Harman think that ethics is problematic?

Study Questions on Sturgeon, "Moral Explanations"

1. How does Sturgeon reply to Harman's argument about the two senses of observation? Use the Hitler example and the Donner Party example in your explanation.

2. How does Sturgeon respond to Harman's bubble chamber example?

3. What is the main difference between Harman and Sturgeon on the nature of moral explanations?